What we know:
- Truck ploughed into crowd in French city of Nice
- At least 75 feared dead and 100 injured
- Truck driver shot dead
- President Francois Hollande to hold crisis talks in Paris
- Follow live updates
The driver of the truck was shot dead after barrelling two kilometres (1.3 miles) through the crowd on the palm-lined Promenade des Anglais, sending hundreds fleeing in terror and leaving the area strewn with bodies.
"An individual drove a truck into the crowd. He was killed by police," said interior ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet.
A photograph showed the front of the truck riddled with bullet holes and badly damaged, with burst tyres.
US President Barack Obama condemned "what appears to be a horrific terrorist attack", although no group had claimed responsibility for the incident.
Robert Holloway, an AFP reporter who witnessed the white truck driving at speed onto the seaside road, described scenes of "absolute chaos".
"We saw people hit and bits of debris flying around. I had to protect my face from flying debris," he said.
"The driver of a van appears to have killed dozens. Stay in your homes for now. More info to follow," said Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi.
Over the past week France had been breathing a sigh of relief after successfully hosting the month-long Euro 2016 football championship, which passed off without incident.
If you have any concern about family and friends, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 24 hour Consular Emergency Centre can be reached on 1300 555 135 or +61 2 6261 3305 if calling from overseas.
